3 milestones Madison Keys achieved by reaching Australian Open 2025 final

Madison Keys overcame Iga Swiatek in a titanic tussle at the Australian Open semifinal. The American, who is now on an 11-match winning streak, came back from a set down to overcome her opponent 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8).

Keys will now play Aryna Sabalenka in the summit clash on Saturday. While it is now completely unfamiliar territory for her (she made another Grand Slam final at the US Open way back in 2017), Keys has achieved a few milestones with her win over Swiatek.

Before we reset and look ahead at the blockbuster final between the big hitting Sabalenka and Keys, let's take a quick look at three milestones that the American achieved with her seminal victory:

---

Madison Keys has the longest gap between first two Grand Slam finals

Madison Keys gets emotional after her 2025 Australian Open semifinal win over Iga Swiatek. (Source: Getty)

Madison Keys made her first Grand Slam final at the 2017 US Open, losing to close friend and fellow American Sloane Stephens in rather lopsided fashion.

It has taken eight years but she will have a chance at redemption when she takes on Aryna Sabalenka in the summit clash of the Australian Open on Saturday. The gap though, has already put Keys in the history as it is the longest for reaching a second Grand Slam final.

The record so far was being held by Amelie Mauresmo. The Frenchwoman reached her first Slam final at the 1999 Australian Open as a teenager, but much like Keys, was unable to get over the line. She came up short against Martina Hingis. She returned to the same stage seven years later, this time completing her Melbourne crowd with a 6-1, 2-0 (ret) win over Justine Henin.

While the match did not end in a fashion that either party would have wanted, Mauresmo would have been extremely pleased with having captured her first Slam. Keys could well take inspiration heading into the final.

---

Madison Keys has most number of Australian Open appearances before reaching a maiden final

Madison Keys is playing in her 11th 2025 Australian Open main draw. (Source: Getty)

Another small piece of history with a Melbourne connection to have come Madison Keys' way is the most number of main draw appearances needed before reaching their first Australian Open final.

At 11, the American will now shared the record with Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane also played in 11 Australian Open main draws before reaching her first summit clash in 2018. In good news for Keys, Wozniacki did go on to win that final against Simona Halep, ending a long wait for a maiden Grand Slam trophy.

Keys' best result at Melbourne prior to this run have remained her two semifinal finishes. The first came way back in 2015 when she lost none other than Serena Williams. She again made the last-four in 2022 but was stopped by Ashleigh Barty. Both Williams and Barty went on to lift the trophy a couple of days later.

---

Oldest player to recah Australian Open since Venus and Serena Williams

Madison Keys played her first Australian Open way back in 2012. (Source: Getty)

Madison Keys broke out onto the big stage as a fearless free-swinging teenager back in the early 2010s (playing her first Australian Open in 2012) and many saw her continuing to achieve big goals. It has taken a while but she is once again playing her best tennis on the biggest of stages.

At 29, the Ameican has become the oldest Australian Open women's singles finalist since Venus and Serena Williams in 2017. The legendary duo were 35 and 38 respectively at the time and it was the younger sister who prevailed.

Rollback to today, Keys was in a recent interview with the WTA asked about her rediscovering her best tennis while approaching 30. “I can’t wait to see where I’m at,” she had said coming into the Australian Open, while highlighting other players doing well even into their 30s. It is only fitting that she finds herself a win away from the biggest achievement of her stellar career.